DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters in Spirited Away. However the plot is mine.
Hello! I noticed I got my first fav. Yay! Keep them coming! Next update is next week.
The first chapter to exceed 1000 words! :D
I read some of the stories that all the other lovely authors wrote about Spirited Away and I couldn't find any idea like mine (the hair tie)... That is until today. I really didn't copy the idea. So to the user KawaChow: if you happen to stumble upon this story, I didn't copy your idea.
Happy reading! CN
Chapter IV: Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi
Haku's POV
The next day I woke up as the sun was setting. I couldn't believe it that I slept for almost for 15 hours straight and that I felt replenished. I decided this was the perfect time to speak to Yubaba, before the bathhouse opened and the chaos started. I quickly took a shower and changed, left the room and barged into Yubaba's office ignoring the door knocker who was yelling hysterically for me to stop.
"Don't you know how to knock?" she spoke in her usual rude manner.
"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi..." I whispered.
"What are you mumbling there? Speak louder!" said Yubaba without taking her eyes from the receipts she was filling.
" Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi!" I said as loud as I could so that she can't deny that she heard me.
At that Yubaba's eyes almost popped out of her sockets and the smoke from the cigarette that was between her lips came out through her ears.
"How do you...? When...? How...?" she started to formulate so many questions at once it was really hard to understand anything.
"Chihiro helped me to remember my name. I am no longer under your control, Yubaba!" I told her feeling very proud of me but most importantly of Chihiro.
"But I wasn't controlling you. You said you wanted to be my apprentice..." she said in a calmer voice like she was a totally different person than the one that spoke 10 seconds ago.
"Yeah, but not do your dirty work!"
"But..."
"No buts! I want you to tear up my contract! I am no longer working for you." I said forcefully feeling tired and wanting to get this over with.
"But where will you go?" she starting asking meekly, like she gave a damn about what I did with my life.
"That is not your problem!"
"But..."
"If you don't get that contract and tear it up immediately, I'll show you a thing or two of what I've learned by being your apprentice." I said starting getting angry that I didn't seem to reason with her.
"Are you threatening me, Haku?" she started fuming again though her ears seeing that I was no longer willing to be her lackey.
"Oh, no. That's not a threat. That is a promise." I told her knowing that I had to play it cool if I wanted to succeed.
"Fine. I will tear up the contract but I have one condition." she said and started sneering. I could see her brain working and I didn't like what I saw.
"No more conditions! I told you my name. I want to go!"
"Ah...Ah...Ah...! You don't tell me what to do. While that contract still exists, you belong to me."
"Fine! What is it you want this time?" I asked seeing that this discussion was getting me nowhere.
"I want you to kill my sister and get the golden magic seal back." she said matter of factly, like she was talking about the weather.
"What?!" I asked incredulously. I knew she was evil, but this was taking it to a whole new other level.
"You heard me! What's going to be? My sister or your precious Chihiro?" she sneered again knowing that she had me pinned in the corner.
I was really between a rock and a hard place. I cared about Zeniba, but unless I was free from Yubaba I couldn't bring Chihiro back to the Spirit World. After a long time I finally gave in: "Ok, I'll do it. How will I prove to you that I killed Zeniba?"
"You will bring me her heart."
Knowing that there was nothing I could do to change her mine, I left Yubaba's office as fast as I could I got to the first window and jumped, transforming into my dragon form and flying to Swamp Bottom. The journey there gave me time to think about my actions. I never planned on killing Zeniba, but I had to be convincing to Yubaba so she won't suspect a thing.
Arriving at Zeniba's two and a half hours later, I landed in her yard and barged inside, not expecting for her to open the door.
"Zeniba, we have a big problem!" I said forceful, but Zeniba didn't look to be scared or impressed.
"What is it, dear?" she asked in her sweet granny voice not startled at all that I just barged in the door like a mad man.
"Yubaba wants you dead." I told her bluntly, not knowing how to sugar coat this information.
"And where is the news?" she asked as if I had just told her that the sun shines in the day.
"I told her I would kill you..." I said knowing that I couldn't keep this information any longer.
"What?"
"I don't want and I don't intend to, but otherwise I can't leave the bathhouse." I said so rapidly that even I didn't understand completely what I said.
"Could you slow down a little and be a little more specific, dear?"
"On the way back, the last time we were here, Chihiro helped me remember my real name..." I started to tell her.
"That's great!" She said and acted like a real grandmother that saw her grandchild get into college. That's when I felt for the first time that I wasn't alone in this world.
"That's what I thought. I went earlier to see Yubaba and told her my real name and that I didn't want to work for her any longer. But when I told her to tear up the contract she said no. I threatened her and she gave in, but she had one condition: that I kill you and take your golden magic seal."
"Ok..."
"How do we trick her into believing that you are dead?" I asked her seeing that she was becoming more and more upset.
"Easy... You kill me." She responded bluntly like she was talking about an ordinary thing.
"WHAT?! Zeniba, I know you're really old, but are you bonkers? I don't want to kill you!" I said wondering if the old witch has just lost her marbles.
"Well, then don't kill me."
"And then I'll never get to see Chihiro again..." I said deflated.
"Well then... We must think of a plan. How about some tea?" She said reverting to her normal cheerful self.
"Fine..." I responded, knowing that I was just delaying the inevitable.
While Zeniba was busying herself in the kitchen making tea, I remembered the hair tie that she gave me. I took it out of my inside pocket and started playing with it thinking how could I see Chihiro again and keep Zeniba alive. At first it looked like a normal hair tie (although a little girly for my taste), but then it started to glow. I thought I was dreaming but then...it zapped me.
